The Exec Address

Principal Address

Dear Maronite College of the Holy Family Community,

As we complete another term, we give thanks first and foremost for the many blessings God has poured upon us. We were especially blessed this term with the celebration of Patriarch Elias Howayek, being proclaimed Blessed. As the Founder of the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, his vision to educate all children finds its expression at MCHF, a Maronite College in Australia that continues the ministry to educate children in Gospel values.

Howayek day was celebrated on 7 September, and the relic of Blessed Howayek passed through the entire campus, bringing graces to our community. The students also watched a documentary and a play about the life of the Patriarch.

In the presence of Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay and Mother General Antoinette Saade, MCHF, the community and the parishioners participated in a thanksgiving Mass on 5 September, for the vision of the Patriarch, which was followed by a beautiful dinner hosted by the Sisters.

In term 3 we finally got our alumni off the ground with a wonderful reunion night that brought back many memories, laughter and renewed friendships. We hope to continue to reach out to past students and teachers with ongoing alumni events. Our next alumni event will be on 23 October at 6.30pm, with a time to gather and learn a little more about our Patriarch followed by an evening of bbq and drinks and socialising.

Throughout term 3 staff have continued to undertake professional learning with focus on explicit teaching. They have had the opportunity to observe their peers in class to see how different staff deliver explicit teaching. Through review of previous learning, presentation of new learning, guided practice, corrections and feedback, and independent practice, explicit teaching aims to improve student learning and critical thinking.

The end of term 3, saw our Year 12 students graduating and now preparing for their final exams. Please keep them in your prayers as they sit their final HSC exams in term 4.

Our Masterplan, State Significant Development Application, has been lodged, and we are hoping for a positive outcome sometime late next year. In the meantime, we have been refining our architectural plans for the interior of Stage 1. At a costing of close to $60M it will include underground carpark, a very large hall, drama room, labs, music and visual art rooms and a rooftop play space. We will continue to keep our community informed of the progress of the application.

I thank all staff, parents and students for their contribution to the busy life of the College over Term 3, and we look forward to an exciting Term 4 where a great deal happens!

Sr Margaret Ghosn

Principal

The Maronite College of the Holy Family community is deeply saddened by the passing of one of our Year 6 students, Jaxon. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, classmates, and all those affected by this tragic loss.

At this difficult time, our focus is on supporting Jaxon's family and providing wellbeing and counselling support to our students and staff. Additional support services have been made available within the College community. 

We kindly ask that the privacy of Jaxon's family be respected as they grieve.

No further comment will be made at this time.

Sr Margaret Ghosn

Principal

Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning

Dear MCHF Community 

As we wish another Year 12 graduating class success and pray for their growth and achievement as they leave our community and advance to make positive imprints on our society, we also congratulate the other twelve grade groups of learners who have continued to grow as learners, thinkers and young people of faith throughout Term 3. 

And it has certainly been one of purposeful learning across our College. From our youngest learners developing foundational literacy and numeracy skills, to our senior students preparing for the challenges and opportunities beyond school, our classrooms have continued to be places of curiosity, challenge, collaboration and achievement. 

A particular strength of our teaching and learning this Term has been our continued focus on explicit teaching, high expectations and achievable routines. Our teachers are working deliberately to ensure students understand not only what they are learning, but how to learn effectively. Through clear instruction, modelling, questioning, feedback and opportunities for students to practise and apply their knowledge, we are building confident and increasingly independent learners. We continue to observe each other’s practice and we are using the data gathered here to strategically focus our Term 4 professional learning on any weaknesses in our practice, especially where we see the opportunity to use formative feedback to change the direction of learning for individual students within our classes. 

Our commitment to improving literacy and numeracy across the College also remains a key priority. These skills are the foundation upon which success in every subject is built, and our staff continue to identify meaningful opportunities to develop students' reading, writing, problem-solving, mathematical thinking and ability to communicate effectively across the curriculum. Some examples of this included the STEM week and Book Week activities across Primary and Secondary which sparked fun and curiosity in our learners. 

As we look towards Term 4, our focus will remain firmly on learning growth, student achievement and preparing every young person for their next step. For our senior students, this Term is actually Term 1 of the HSC year. For our younger students, it means continuing to build the knowledge, skills and learning habits that will support them throughout their schooling. 

I would like to sincerely thank our teachers and support staff for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to the learning of every student. Teaching is a profession that makes a profound difference to the lives of young people, and the care, expertise and high expectations demonstrated by our staff each day are central to the success of our College. 

Head of Wellbeing K-12

Dear MCHF Community,

As we come to the end of Term 3, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our students, staff, and families for another vibrant and successful term at the College. Our community continues to grow in spirit, unity, and achievement, and this term has been filled with moments that truly reflect our values of Know. Love. Serve.

One of the standout highlights has been the incredible success of our representative sporting teams. We are proud to celebrate five MCHF teams making it through to their grand finals — an outstanding achievement that reflects dedication, teamwork, and the unwavering support of our coaches and families. Congratulations to all students involved; you represented the College with pride and sportsmanship.

This term also marked a significant milestone for our Year 12 students, who have now completed their schooling journey and graduated from MCHF. We pray for them as they step into the next chapter of their lives, carrying with them the values, friendships, and faith foundations built over their years at the College. We look forward to celebrating their successes as they move into adulthood.

Our younger students also enjoyed a range of joyful community events, including the Primary Disco, which brought colour, laughter, and plenty of dancing to the hall, and our Father’s Day Stall, where students selected thoughtful gifts to honour the fathers and father‑figures in their lives. Thank you to the staff and parent volunteers who made these events possible.

As we prepare for the break, a gentle reminder to families that all students in Years 3–12 must bring their learning devices to school each day, fully charged, when we return in Term 4. This ensures smooth learning and reduces disruptions in class. Additionally, please note that mobile phones remain completely banned at the College, including for canteen purchases. Students should continue using their student cards or cash for transactions.

As we conclude Term 3, I wish all our families a safe, restful, and blessed school break. May it be a time of renewal, joy, and connection. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a strong finish to the year.

Warm regards

Ms Bou-melhem